The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olanipekun Olukoyede, disclosed that he turned down offers of about N500m from various individuals during his mother’s funeral in 2019.

Olukoyede spoke at the 38th Anti-Corruption Situation Room in Abuja on Thursday with the theme: Ethics, Integrity, Corruption Risk Assessments and Anti-Corruption at National and Sub-National levels: Sustaining the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

The programme was organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda Resource Centre, Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission, ICPC, and EFCC with the support of the MacArthur Foundation.

Olukoyede explained that the substantial gifts, which included cheques and drafts, were sent to him by ministers, permanent secretaries, directors, and other high-ranking officials.

At the time, Olukoyede was serving as the Secretary of the EFCC.

He recounted that upon his return to his family home in Ekiti State, where the funeral took place, he discovered numerous cheques in a carton.

After reviewing the cheques, which amounted to nearly N500m, he decided to return them.

The EFCC chairman narrated, “I lost my mother in the year 2019 (in Ekiti State). We went for the funeral. I was the secretary of the EFCC then. People came. So I went to my place a day before the funeral service. By the time I got to my small compound, which I built several years ago before I joined the EFCC, I saw about 17 cows in my compound, including pregnant ones.

“When I got home, my gate man presented a box (carton) to me and inside it, I saw so many cheques and drafts from ministers, permanent secretaries, directors, DGs of agencies, etc.

“And so, I went in and showed it to my wife. She said, ‘Praise God’. I said, ‘Praise God for what?’ By the time we put all the cheques together, it counted close to N500m.”

Reflecting on the situation, Olukoyede expressed concern about the potential consequences if he had deposited the cheques into his account, particularly given his role in investigating the individuals who had sent them.

He explained that had the cheques been found in his bank account, it could have been used against him during investigations and cast doubt on his integrity.

He emphasised the importance of maintaining ethical conduct and transparency, especially in his position at the EFCC.

“I did the burial in September 2019. By July 2020, I was under investigation. Now, assuming all those cheques were paid into my account as traditional gifts and some of the MDAs that we were investigating in the EFCC, some of their directors and their DGs and their ministers sent cheques to me.

“Ordiarily, I mean for burial, some gave me one million, N20m and all of that. Even though that would not have influenced my decision if I was in a position to determine what would happen to their investigations, how would I have explained before a panel that they saw cheques paid into my account?

“So, assuming they found those cheques paid into my account, would it have been a good defence for me to say it was my mother’s burial when they were looking for me to roast? For me, that is what you call integrity. When you go beyond a level of expectation.”

Olukoyede also shared an example of rejecting bids from family members for auctioneering services during his tenure as EFCC Secretary.

He explained how both his brother-in-law, an international auctioneer, and his elder brother sought to participate in a government auction of forfeited assets. Despite the personal connections, Olukoyede insisted on adhering to conflict-of-interest rules, rejecting their applications.

He said, “My chairman then, we agreed that we should select a committee. So, we selected an assets forfeiture committee of about six directors, including myself as the chairman of the committee and a few other staff.

“We advertised for auctioneers. So, they applied. We were able to shortlist about 11 of them. My brother-in-law happens to be an international auctioneer. He applied. His application came to me. I saw it and I shredded it. So, my PA who knew him, called him and told him what I did, and for six months, he did not talk to me. So we did the auction.

“One of my elder brothers called me. ‘I heard you are doing an auction. I needed a truck for my business. I said, ‘Sir, go and read what we published.’ Conflict of interest. No staff of EFCC or immediate members of the family is allowed. He said no, they would use another name. I knew they could do that. I told him that I was not interested.

“After about eight months down the line, they set up a panel to investigate activities of the EFCC. My chairman and I were placed on suspension. They began to investigate what we did in the office. They investigated the particular auction I did in Port Harcourt. Now, assuming they found the name of my brother-in-law as one of the auctioneers. What would have been the result? Probably I may be in jail by now,” Olukoyede said.

Former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State and 2024 Senatorial Candidate, Silas Joseph Onu, has welcome the expulsion of the party’s national vice chairman, South East Zone, Mr. Ali Odefa.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Tuesday, affirmed the expulsion of the embattled Odefa.

The judgment affirmed the decision of his Ward Executive Committee decision to expel him for anti-party activities after he was earlier suspended.

According to Oni, Odefa is believed to be working for the Oyo State governor, covering the interest of the Oyo governor in the South East ahead of the 2027 presidential bid of the governor.

Onu, a lawyer said, “His expulsion has been long overdue and having it affirmed today is a great news for the PDP. We await to see how the Oyo Governor will now overrule the Federal High Court decision, seeing that he had encouraged the disobedience of other” judgments in the past.”

Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and its chairman, Barr. Hashim Abioye have filed a lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the state’s Commissioner of Police for alleged breach of fundamental rights.

In suit no: FHC/Os/CS/41/2025 filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, on behalf of all OSSIEC workers and its ad-hoc staff, the commission sued the defendants for breach and continuing breach of their fundamental rights, illegal arrest and detention, unlawful sealing of the Commission’s premises, as well as threat of further arrest and detention and illegal seizure of properties belonging to OSSIEC.

The Commission and its chairman are also demanding the sum of N2 billion as damages against the defendants, amongst other reliefs.

They are seeking an order directing the defendants to vacate and unseal the plaintiffs’ office premises and immediate release of all staff of the commission arrested for doing their lawful duty.

The plaintiffs also seek an order restraining the defendants from arresting detaining or doing anything capable of hindering the fundamental human rights to liberty, private life and property as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Recall that the OSSIEC headquarters was sealed off by the police a day before the Saturday, February 22, 2025 local government elections in the state which prevented the Commission’s staff from performing their lawful duty.

A former chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Enugu State, Barrister John Nwobodo has stated that the candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi will not command as much followers in 2027 as he did during the last election.

Nwobodo disclosed this in an interview with LEADERSHIP in Enugu, saying, “I do not see Peter Obi commanding as much followership and influence as he did in 2023.”

He noted that things have fallen apart within the Labour Party, fearing that the party has ceased to command supporters’ attraction due to leadership crises.

“The party went into the 2023 general election without grassroots structure as evident in its inability to field polling units agents in all the polling units across the Federation.

“One had thought that they would settle down to build the party in anticipation of 2027 but all we see is bickering and contestation for party positions compounded by external influences and infiltration by fifth columnists,” he said.

Nwobodo pointed out that the leadership disputes could have been averted, but it suspected that there are interests within the party who wanted to wrestle leadership from Julius Abure as the national chairman.

He stressed that Abure had no choice than to fight back to retain his position.

On whether the alliance of opposition party leaders can change leadership at national level, Nwobodo said this depends on the drivers of such movement, and what they are bringing on board, insisting that Nigerians are tired of rhetoric.

“We want to see leaders who have in-depth understanding of the problems of Nigeria coupled with knowledge of workable solutions to fix Nigeria.

“The bulk of Labour Party supporters came from PDP; so many of them due to stomach infrastructure have gone back to where they came from. 2023 was an extraordinary moment in history which might not replay itself in 2027,” he stated.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Abdullahi Abbas, has revealed that instead of seeking another term to lead the party, his ultimate goal is to become the governor of the state.

Abbas made this known in an interview with the BBC Hausa service in response to recent comments made by the Minister of Housing, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, who threatened to leave the party should Abbas continued as the APC chairman.

The minister had warned that he would exit the APC if Abbas was re-elected as the party’s chairman for the fourth term.

His remarks, captured in a viral video circulating on social media, have intensified political tensions within the party.

However, in his response, Abbas dismissed Ata’s threat, stating that the minister is not a core APC member.

He expressed surprise at how Ata was appointed to a ministerial position. “As far as we, the party members, are concerned, he was never truly one of us. In the whole of Kano, we only ranked third in his local government area during elections,” Abbas said.

“We were unaware of how he was appointed as a minister. We even informed the President that he is not a true party member. He worked against the party,” he added.

Abbas further described Ata as a local politician with limited influence, questioning the rationale behind his ministerial appointment.

LEADERSHIP reports that Ata attributed the APC’s loss in the 2023 elections to the actions of the party’s leadership, stating that Abbas’ remarks contributed to the party’s defeat.

“We are telling everyone that if they bring back the same leaders, all of us will leave,” Ata threatened during a stakeholders’ meeting in Fage local government area of Kano State recently.

The ongoing dispute within the Kano APC has further exposed deep divisions within the party, raising concerns about its political stability and influence in the state.

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, with the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, on Sunday.

El-Rufai visited Adamu at the latter’s residence in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

This was made public by an X user and staunch follower of El-Rufai, @UI_Wakili.

He wrote: “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, accompanied by Mallam Bashir Saidu and Dujima Adamawa, paid a visit to former APC Chairman Abdullahi Adamu today at his residence in Keffi.”

The meeting comes barely 48 hours after El-Rufai accompanied former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on a condolence visit to the family of the late Niger Delta activist, Edwin Clark.

Following the condolence visit, El-Rufai and Atiku observed the Friday Jummat prayer together.

Recently, El-Rufai fell out with APC over what he described as the party’s lack of internal democracy.

He claimed that the party’s organs have not convened in the last two years.

Deputy Chairman of opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Dass local government area of Bauchi State, Yunusa Umar has led over 7,500 party members to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Those that followed Umar to the PDP include the APC Youth Leader in the local government, Yusuf Inuwa Bora and the Welfare Secretary, Isah Zakaria.

The defectors were officially received into their new party on Sunday by the PDP Chairman in Dass local government, Hon. Yusuf Sabo, and the Chairman of the the council, Hon. Mohammed Abubakar Jibo.

Umar cited the impressive performance of Governor Bala Mohammed as the key reason for their defection from the APC.

He commended the governor for his people-oriented policies and programmes since assuming office in 2019, highlighting their positive impacts on the citizens.

“Governor Bala Mohammed’s policies and programmes have truly convinced us to join the PDP. As politicians, the welfare of our supporters is our top priority, and we have seen that PDP genuinely cares about the people. There was no reason to hesitate any longer,” Umar stated.

He further assured that the new members would not only mobilise votes for the PDP in the next general elections, but also contribute to the party’s growth and development in the state.

Other defectors also commended Governor Mohammed’s developmental strides, noting that they had benefited more under his administration than during the tenure of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, who hails from the constituency.

The defectors also commended the chairman of the local government, Hon. Jibo for his performance, pledging their continued support for his administration.

Hon. Jibo described the defection of the APC chieftains and members as a significant development, emphasising that despite challenges, Governor Mohammed’s administration has remained committed to taking Bauchi State to greater heights.

Jibo assured the new PDP members that they would be fully integrated into the party without discrimination and urged them to work together with his administration for the progress of Dass local government.

Former Chairman of the defunct Skye Bank, Tunde Ayeni, has asked a Federal Capital Territory Customary Court in Dawaki, Abuja to declare that his ex-mistress Adaobi Alagwu’s daughter is not his.

Ayeni and Alagwu have been locked in a paternity dispute since 2022.

While she insists that her daughter belongs to the business mogul, Ayeni has repeatedly denied fathering the child.

Ayeni while being led in evidence on Monday by his lawyer, Silas Onu, said Alagwu was never his wife and urged the court for pronouncement declaring the same.

He said, “I want a declaration that she was never my wife; we were never married, and I am not the biological father of her daughter.”

Ayeni, recounting details of his relationship with Alagwu, said he had made commitments before the child was born and immediately after by paying money to Alagwu’s father in the form of a dowry and agreeing to have the daughter bear his surname, but the money was returned to him, stressing that he was never married to her.

Ayeni added that he came to court because he brought a petition against Alagwu, who had been parading herself as his wife and claiming that she had a child for him, which he said was not true.

He told the court that he and Alagwu had been friends prior to 2022 and all along, she knew that he was married.

He said, “I never hid that fact from her. In the course of our friendship, it was to my knowledge that she was also in a relationship with other men, which fact was also not hidden.

“Sometime in 2022, she claimed she got pregnant and that the pregnancy was for me. It became a source of dispute between me and her until she brought in her mother, who came to talk to me and subsequently, her father, whom I met for the first time at that time.

“Her father claimed to be a chief in his community and that the daughter had told him about me a year earlier. And that she has told him that she is pregnant and that the pregnancy was for me.

“The father said according to Igbo tradition, there must be money paid to her for the child not to bear his (Ms. Alagwu’s father’s) name. And, that as a traditional chief, it was important for me to do it to avoid the shame to him and his family and for me to avoid the traditional consequence.”

Ayeni added that he only agreed to pay the said money at the time so that the child could answer his name because he was led to believe that the child was his.

“I agreed,  but it was not for marriage, because I explained that I am married under the Act and I cannot conduct any other legal union.”

A copy of Ayeni’s marriage certificate was tendered to the court as evidence.

Speaking further, the business mogul said, “I was made to believe that the child was mine, which informed why I took those steps in the interest of the child.”

He added that he made the payment when the respondent was about five to six months pregnant.

 “I took those responsible steps when I thought the child was mine. When I discovered that the girl child was not my child, I did not hesitate to convey the fact that she did not belong to me.”

Ayeni stated that the respondent’s act of parading herself as his wife brought embarrassment to his wife, which led him to issue her a cease and desist notice.

“When reasonable discussion could not stop her from parading herself in a manner to cause my wife disaffection and embarrassment I had to resort to the legal measure.

“I instructed a lawyer, Dele Adesina (SAN), to write the respondent a cease and desist, because she was parading herself as Mrs. Ayeni, claiming to have a child for me.

“Not only did the child not have any attributes of me, both in terms of physical appearance, being flat-footed, which nobody in my family ever had, or in terms of complexion.

“I have three children with my wife. No one is flat-footed,” he said.

He added that he has never had a cause or reason to conduct a DNA test on any of his children because he saw no need as they all look like him in appearance.

“When she started parading herself as my wife and claiming to have a daughter for me, I knew of her multiple relationships.

“I know that the reason she was claiming that the child was mine and claiming to be my wife was because of the money I paid before the child was born.

“I demanded a refund of the money I paid and the money was refunded to me.”

When asked by Alagwu’s lawyer, T. G. Okechukwu, if he would agree to take another test since he rejected the one earlier taken, Ayeni answered in the negative.

He however added that he would only agree if the other men in the life of the ex-mistress would also come forward.

Ayeni said, “From the information before me now, I know that there are many that had relationships with her. We all have to subject ourselves to the test. One of them has even accused me of stealing his child.

“It was me that insisted on DNA when I realized that the child has strange features, like being flat-footed, which is not similar to mine or any member of my family.

“If I am to submit for another DNA test, at least my colleagues that I know were also in a relationship with her will all submit ourselves to the same test. If it is her desire for I alone to do it, I will not,” he said.

At the end of his testimony, the court asked Alagwu’s lawyer when she would be available for her defence, since he said she was abroad on a medical trip.

He responded that he would ensure her availability in court on March 4, a date he chose for her defence and the hearing of her counter-claim.

Meanwhile, Alagwu in her counterclaim denied all the claims in the petitioner’s statement.

She argued that her customary dowry for a marriage between the two of them was paid in 2022, adding that Ayeni only told her he was married under the native law and custom and therefore eligible to get married to her.

She added that her daughter was born in the United States of America during the subsistence of the marriage between them and that Ayeni named the baby.

“The complainant, who is also known as J.0.Ayeni, gave Baby Ayeni, his first, middle and surname, which she bears to date.

“The complainant, John Olatunde Ayeni, is acknowledged as the father of baby Ayeni in her birth certificate.

“The complainant, John Olatunde Ayeni, is also acknowledged in the birth register of the State of California as the father of baby Ayeni. Naming baby Ayeni and the municipal registrations referred where all done by the complainant’s conscious decision,” she stated.

She added that the DNA test on the baby was carried out in a reputable hospital of Ayeni’s choice.

“Despite settled biological ties of the complainant as baby Ayeni’s father, he proposed and arranged in cahoots with his wife for a DNA test to confirm the paternity of baby Ayeni beyond any shred of doubt. They chose the DDC, DNA Diagnostic Centre, Hammersmith Grove, London, W67BA and only invited the respondent to show up with baby Ayeni for the exercise.

“Further to the above and following a demand for email addresses for the posting of the DNA test report, the respondent dutifully provided hers while the complainant’s wife elected to provide her own email address in lieu of the complainant personally so doing.

“The Respondent later received the DNA Test Report with Ref. No.0Z5167 shows a probability of 99.9999997 % that John Olatunde Ayeni is Baby Ayeni’s biological father.

“Following the issuance of the DNA test report the complainant and his wife intensified their frenzied denigrating social media attacks on the respondent and baby Ayeni in the said social media publications,” she stated.